He scares me. My only protection is pretending I don’t want this. Pretending I’m committed to another man.

But I can’t lie to Raylan. He’s too honest, too open. And too damn perceptive. He’ll know if I lie. It’s pointless.

“I broke up with him,” I admit.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Raylan growls.

“I wanted you to think I was taken,” I confess.

What the fuck am I doing? Why am I admitting that?

“Why?” Raylan says.

I lick my lips, tasting the cool, clear river. “You scare me,” I say.

I’ve never admitted to being intimidated. I’ve never admitted to being afraid, period.

“This . . . scares me,” I say, gesturing between the two of us.

Raylan steps closer to me, closing the gap between us. I can almost hear his heart pounding as fast as mine. I’m sure I would hear it, if not for the noise of the running water.

“I told myself I wouldn’t kiss you again without your permission,” he says.

I swallow hard.

“But that was a stupid fucking promise,” he growls. He grabs my face between his hands, and he kisses me hard, harder even than he did in the gym. His bare, burning-hot chest presses against mine. His tongue thrusts into my mouth. His beard scratches my face.

I kiss him back, my hands thrust in his thick, black hair. His hair feels hot from the sun, thick and coarse and alive like animal fur. The scent of his skin is sharp and wild.

He lifts me up and throws me on the riverbank, in the sun-warmed grass. Then he climbs on top of me and kisses me even harder, grinding his naked body against mine. I can feel his cock standing straight up now, harder than a poker.

His lips devour mine, then they run hungrily down my neck, down to my breasts. He sucks and nibbles on my nipples, making me moan and arch my back. Meanwhile he’s touching between my thighs, stroking my pussy lightly at first, then a little harder as his fingers become slick and wet.

I’m soaking wet. Wetter than I’ve ever been before. It started the moment I saw him naked, and it only got worse. The river couldn’t wash it away. My pussy is swollen and aching, throbbing at his touch.

I grind against his hand. I’m rabid for him. Ravenous.

He reaches up with his other hand to caress my face, and I seize his fingers between my teeth and bite them, then suck on his index and middle finger, taking them all the way into my mouth.

I’ve never behaved like this in my life.

Quite honestly, I’m a selfish lover, doing only what I personally like. I don’t get down on my knees and suck men’s cocks—that would be degrading. I let them worship me, but I don’t respond in kind.

With Raylan, I have no pride. He’s unleashed a hunger in me that I never knew before. I’m fucking wild for him. I would do anything for him right now. I want to taste him, touch him, lick him absolutely everywhere. I want him like I’ve never wanted anything before.